Sam "The Dot Man" McMillan

1926 - 2018

Sam earned his name "The Dot Man" because everything he painted (from birdhouses to beds!) got the royal treatment with his trademark polka dots. Using bright primary colors, Sam often painted black and white families holding hands with the phrase "If we all hold hands, we can't fight."

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He was born in 1926 in Robeson County, North Carolina and made his home in Winston-Salem for many years. He made and repaired furniture, worked in the tobacco warehouses, and was a handyman. From his workshop, Sam would find furniture and then paint it with bright colors and scenes from everyday life like riding bikes, flying kites, or going on a bus trip.

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His artwork has been included in numerous group exhibitions, including the Anacostia Museum and Center for African American History and Culture (affiliated with The Smithsonian Institute). His artwork is in many private collections and is also featured at The House of Blues.